Sittwe (Akyab), Arakan- The government-backed marauding Rakhine mobs attacked International NGOs and Humanitarian workers and forced them out of Arakan state last Thursday. Besides, they vandalized residentials of the NGO workers, their offices and other related infrastructures. According to some reliable sources, some government forces in civilian uniforms, acting on the instructions by the higher authority, also attacked and destroyed the International NGO offices.

The Rakhine mobs looted rice and other food rations at the displaced camps and took them away by vehicles and other means right before the eyes of Police and Security Force (Hlun Htein).

Since there are no Humanitarian Workers left to distribute basic necessary commodities to the displaced Rohingyas in Sittwe (Akyab) and Pauktaw, some friendly Rakhine businessmen tried to deliver some food stuffs and goods to the Rohingyas. However, they were hindered on the way to the internally displaced camps by Rakhine extremists and pseudo monks. Therefore, according to the latest reports, there is a severe shortage of foods and other necessary goods. Market price of a 50-Kg sack of rice is now ranging around Kyat 30,000. If the situation goes on for a few days, it is highly like that many innocent people have to starve and face untimely demise.

Many view that this is being done to pressurize Rohingyas to abandon their legitimate claim of their ethnic identity ‘Rohingya.’